Interview: Myra McEntire, author of Hourglass

In a couple of days I'm going to share my thoughts on Hourglass with you, but for now, please discuss amongst yourselves this lovely interview with Hourglass' author Myra McEntire!  (And make sure to stop back later today for a chance to win a signed copy of Hourglass!)

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Tell us a bit about your road to publication; also, what's been the most surprising thing so far, or the most exciting?

Probably the most exciting thing I can't tell you yet (I know, I'm evil, it's Halloween, just keeping it real). The most surprising thing has been how lovely and welcoming the majority of the Young Adult author community is. I love the people I work with, and my job would be way harder if I didn't have them.

Where did the idea for the story come from? Do you work from a main character and build out to the story, or start with the world and idea, and then find the character who lives it?

This story originally came from Michael. He had shown up in a couple of other books I tried to write, and finally I asked myself why I wasn't paying attention to him! I had to write a five page prompt for a writing group, and Emerson showed up. I wondered what would happen if I put them together. The world came after. However, in what I'm working on now, the world came first. It's a LOT easier to world build first!

What is your favorite scene to have written (so far)?

The scene where Em and Michael are on the patio, and they almost kiss. I REALLY wanted them to kiss, and they REALLY wanted to kiss, and I had to write that sucker ten different times (at least) to make it an ALMOST. But ... I have the deleted attempts.

Ooh, intrigue!  If you could introduce one of your characters to any character from another book, who would it be and why?

I'd love Em to meet Sophie from Hex Hall. Rachel Hawkins is a precious friend, and we've discussed how such an encounter might go down. We even did a Sophie/Em g-chat, which was hilarious. (Not for kicks and giggles, I was supposed to post it. Whoops.)

If you could have any super power, what would it be? Do you see any drawbacks to that power?

I'd like to be able to read minds. The drawback would be being able to read minds. ;P

Book-in-a-tweet: Give us your book in 140 characters or less.

Kissing. Time travel, kinda. Kissing, angst, awkwardness, grief and laughter. The South. AND KISSING.

5 Song Playlist for Hourglass:
1. 42 by Coldplay
2. In My Solitude by Billie Holiday
3. Beautiful Mess by Jason Mraz
4. Get It Shorty by Lloyd
5. Insane in the Membrane by Cypress Hill

Thanks for stopping by, Myra!  And that's quite the ... eclectic playlist.  If that didn't intrigue readers, I don't know what will. ;)
Don't forget, guys, to stop back for a chance to win a copy of Hourglass!

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